le journal bilingue de Glendon | Glendon’s bilingual newspaper
In This Issue: Vie étudiante: An exposé on our student government, a grateful review of GVO Week et des réflexions étudiantes aux échanges académiques à l’étranger Arts and Entertainment: An introduction to the new Radio Glendon Column, une critique sur le nouvel album de l’artiste LGBTQ+ Troye Sivan, and a music lover’s musings Metropolis: Des événements à ne pas manquer à Toronto, a guide to celebrating the end of the first weeks of school, and insight for Toronto on the upcoming elections Issues and Ideas: Ford’s controversial use of the notwithstanding clause, un article informatif sur la presse écrite au Gabon, and a student’s thoughts on language learning Health and Wellness: The return of our popular column John Kemp’s Kitchen, a contemplation of self-care et comment faire du sport peut aider les académiques Expressions: A poem about summer, l’histoire d’amour entre la lune et la mer, and a short story about an immigrant’s struggles with language barriers Prochaine date limite: 28 septembre
Issue 1 - Volume 56, 26 septembre, 2018
Provincial-Municipal Acrimony: Ford Slashes Toronto City Council
Lucas Oleniuk, Toronto Star
Amanda Sears Assistant English Editor Sabrina Gilmour Contributor Once again, against the better judgement of many Ontarians, Doug Ford has our attention. Recently, the unlikely Premier has declared that his Progressive Conservative government will be invoking the notwithstanding clause in section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to proceed with his decision to reduce the number of Toronto city councillors— but not without controversy. Ontario’s first use of this contentious constitutional provision comes after a decision from the provincial Superior Court of Justice to strike down Bill 5 much to the chagrin of Ford’s conservatives. Besides redrawing the
electoral districts of the city of Toronto in the midst of a municipal election, Bill 5, if enacted, will cut down the number of wards and councillors on city council from 47 to 25— a dramatic decrease! New Democratic Party leader, Andrea Horwath, and Toronto mayoral candidate, Jennifer Keesmaat, have both accused Ford of a vengeful misuse of political authority, as he dusts off the old political grudges on his shelf. Otherwise known as the Better Local Government Act, Bill 5 was struck down by the Ontario Superior Court on the basis that the process of enacting it is not constitutionally permissible under the circumstances. According to Justice Edward Belobaba, there exists “at least two constitutional deficiencies that cannot be justified in a free and democratic society. The first relates to the timing of the law and its
impact on candidates, the second to its content and its impact on voters.” Section 33, also known as the override clause, is a much-debated section of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which allows the provinces to override fundamental rights. Needless to say, its use is not to be taken lightly. As Glendon’s own constitutional law expert, Dr. Radha Persaud, states, “section 33 is [intended to be used in] extraordinary circumstances for good governance under the rule of law.” The catch? Parties employing the notwithstanding clause must first admit to overriding rights, draft a version of the bill in question which specifically addresses the use of the override, and finally, must revisit the use of the override in five years for renewal. (Continued on page 12)